Rear Passenger window goes down, but won't go up. Help?

[Shaun Perry]

So my rear passenger side window goes down. Does not ever go back up though, using the driver's button panel or the actual window button from the rear passenger side door panel.

I do however, hear the motor work itself "up" per say, but the glass itself does not follow. I would like to assume the window has just fallen off the guide and I don't need to do a regulator or motor replacement. *cross fingers* because I can hear inside the door what sounds like everything is working still.

I stumbled upon this thread from 2008:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...or-Replacement

Would this be a feasible DIY to follow? Would I be able to figure out how to put the window back on its track using this, or am I over confidenced in thinking its this easy?

Anyone have this problem before and can provide any help?
Is there another DIY out there you guys can point me in the direction of?

I'd rather not let the stealership look at it. And I'm getting tired of leaving work with my window up. Driving home to find my window has fallen all the way down. And I have to use my hands to manually slide the window up before I lock and leave the car.

Thank you in advance,
Shaun.

[stelvio]

If you're mechanically-inclined I would highly suggest you take apart your door panel and just see what's what. I too don't think the regulator is bad because you wouldn't hear anything. When you take it all apart you'll probably be able to see what's messed up if the gears or w/e are messed up...I'm not too sure how that system works. Take pics while you're doing it too!

[Shaun Perry]

If you're mechanically-inclined I would highly suggest you take apart your door panel and just see what's what. I too don't think the regulator is bad because you wouldn't hear anything. When you take it all apart you'll probably be able to see what's messed up if the gears or w/e are messed up...I'm not too sure how that system works. Take pics while you're doing it too!

Definitely comfortable diving into my car, but also hesitant to make matters worse or end up handing my half ass job to someone else in the event I can't solve it. I always look to my Audi brethren first anyway, so hopefully someone replies by the time I get up in the morning and get in there. I assume in the link I shared for the regulator/motor replacement, that removal of the door panel would be somewhat the same if not exact?

[old guy]

Here's one for the rear regulator: Clicky click

[audi_nightrider]

^^ Def use the link that old guy posted.

Disassembling the door card and other stuff is similar but the regulators are different style. If you are in a budget, there is also a DIY where you use zip tie to secure the little metal part that the green plastic part holds to move the window up and down. Both my rear windows are fixed with zip ties and its been holding for 3 years now =). I wouldn't say it's permanent fix but I did use a pretty good zip tie from Lowe's.


EDIT: Google found it Clicky Click
I forgot about the nail and use of dremel
its really easy to do IMHO.

[Elliott]

^That is definitely one way to do it. But you can find the regulator clips on ebay for around $10 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audi-A4-B6-2...c1bd2a&vxp=mtr).

Best to do it the right way the first time in my opinion.

[Shaun Perry]

Here's one for the rear regulator: Clicky click

Does my write-up point 100% to a bad window regulator?

I have not ordered parts or anything yet and this sound like it calls for a day off from work type of job. I ready have errands for today, so I guess I have to live with the window falling until Friday? Would you guys recommend I still look inside.

Is it possible the window just fell off its track. Or is that the same thing as a bad regulator.
I hear the whole mechanism working and can tell when it goes up and stops then down and stops. The glass just sits there though. 100% bad regulator?

[Charles.waite]

Its very likely to be the regulator. Our windows don't really ever just "fall off the track". The regulator is what fails 99 times out of 100.

[Shaun Perry]

Its very likely to be the regulator. Our windows don't really ever just "fall off the track". The regulator is what fails 99 times out of 100.

Very true. Guess its time to call Audi Livermore, see if they have it in stock and get to it. Can't hold out any longer. Can't even take my car to a car wash. -_____-

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Very true. Guess its time to call Audi Livermore, see if they have it in stock and get to it. Can't hold out any longer. Can't even take my car to a car wash. -_____-

We have them available below!

Click HERE to order or for more information


Jason

[Shaun Perry]

We have them available below!

Click HERE to order or for more information


Jason

Thank you Jason, but I ended up picking up an OEM regulator from my Local Audi stealership.

Update:

I'm actually done with the repair, thank you everyone for all the replies and DIY links.

One last question as I down this beer in my hand before I re install everything back.

Once I've removed the old regulator and have the new one in place to be screwed down, is there any tips as far as how to align the travel arm that sits vertically? It seems the regulator can be screwed into place in an infinitie amount of angles/degrees. I would like to screw it down however, as straight as I can(OEM spec) obviously.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Shaun

[stelvio]

No idea. But if you're not pressed for time you could take apart the other door and see how that's screwed down? Could be a useless suggestion but w/e :)

[A4natomical]

I've only replaced the front window regulators, but from what I remember the upper mount is screwed into the door at one origin, then the bottom piece must be screwed onto the plastic piece that holds the window. The colored plastic piece had a cut away that allowed for a few degrees of play. I just aligned them right in the center of the window piece.

[IgorBoi]

I had the same problem with my front passenger window. Where the regulator made noise but it would not go up. After taking it apart and inspecting it, I found the problem to be that the cable or metal wire that pulls the window up, was ripped. So I had to change the cable itself. Just throwing it out there in case you run out of options and need some more.

[Shaun Perry]

Some advice I can share for others that run into this repair. Buying extra panel clips is a good choice. For me actually, I had to leave the project and drive my car, no window no door panel, to the stealership and buy extra screws. The main screw(forgot part number) that goes down into the top of the regulator connecting to the window assembly. I stripped mine and almost couldn't unscrew it back out. Just a tip of advice.

And like A4natomical pointed out. Just eye ball the plastic piece when assembling. I just laid the glass down and by hand lifted it into place, then adjusted the travel arm like so until it fell into place. But also when you have everything back inside. There is the bracket that you screw from the outside of the door panel and obviously you need to line that up to get the screw in. It will allow you to shove it around to get it into place. End result my window rolls up perfectly fine with no air leaks.

Thank you again for all the responses.

Shaun